Volunteer Opportunities

Orientation

Are you interested in volunteering at the farm but you aren’t sure what opportunities are available? We will tell you about ALL of our programs and you can decide which one fits you best. Afterwards, you will be able to sign up for more specific information and take a flyer about upcoming events. Even if you have volunteered in the past, you might learn something new. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for past volunteers to speak about their experience. Look for orientation dates and sign up in advance >>

Year-Round Garden Team

Work and Learn on Wellness Wednesdays

Looking for a fun way to get some exercise, fresh air and sunshine? Come play, make friends, get your hands in the soil and nourish your spirit. Volunteers are welcome every Wednesday. Meet at the Greenhouse. The team works on tending our mother and teaching gardens at the American River Ranch. You’ll help out and learn about medicinal herbs, native plants, flowers, trees, vegetables and succulents. Volunteers support with greenhouse activities, plant sales and fruit tree orchard care. Tasks change with the season. It’s an opportunity to gain knowledge and build skills. Beginning and experienced gardeners are welcome. Adults and youth up to 17 years old only please. Help us plan accordingly, sign up for a volunteer shift in advance >>

Schedule (October– May)9am Volunteer Orientation meet in Oak Shelter
Please come if it’s your first time volunteering at Soil Born Farms for a brief orientation and sign a waiver.9:30am–12pm Work & Learn with the Year Round Garden Team meet at the Greenhouse12–12:30pm Lunch
Pack a lunch or enjoy a delicious seasonal lunch featuring Soil Born Farms produce served Wednesdays 11:30am-1:30pm at the Farmhouse Kitchen.
Purchase a lunch ticket from Phoebe’s Tea & Snack Bar next to Milly’s Mercantile shed. Proceeds benefit the culinary arts program.12:30–1pm Herb Tea & Talk meet in Sacred Circle
Kellan, our staff herbalist will share herbal wisdom and life lessons she has learned from plants.

Schedule (June–September)8am Volunteer Orientation meet in Oak Shelter
Please come if it’s your first time volunteering at Soil Born Farms for a brief orientation and sign a waiver.8:30–9am Herb Tea & Talk meet in Sacred Circle
Kellan, our staff herbalist discuss a medicinal herb and how to use it.9–11:30am Work & Learn with the Year Round Garden Team meet at the Greenhouse11:30am–1:30pm Lunch at the Farmhouse Kitchen
Pack a lunch or enjoy a delicious seasonal lunch featuring Soil Born Farms produce served Wednesdays 11:30am-1:30pm at the Farmhouse Kitchen.
Purchase a lunch ticket from Phoebe’s Tea & Snack Bar next to Milly’s Mercantile shed. Proceeds benefit the culinary arts program.

Volunteer Field Days

Saturday mornings from 9:30am to 12:45pmExperience a day in the life of a farmer. Work with our experienced farm staff, apprentices and volunteer coordinators on weeding, harvesting, and various other farm activities. Learn about the daily activities required to maintain and run a mixed vegetable and fruit production operation. Bring closed-toe shoes, a hat, a water bottle and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. We highly recommend wearing pants and long sleeves. Adults only please. Youth 15–17 years old are welcome to join their parent or other supervising adult and must have a waiver signed by a parent. *First time volunteers meet in Oak Shelter at 9:15am. Pre-registration is required. Sign up for a volunteer shift in advance >>

Join our Culinary Arts Team

Our culinary arts team is looking for passionate chefs, home cooks, educators and students interested in volunteering for our cooking education program. It’s a great opportunity to volunteer in your community, share your knowledge with others and meet new people. Learn new skills and have fun cooking with farm-fresh produce and culinary herbs. Contact Michelle Sikora if you are interested in more information about any of these volunteer opportunities: Hands-On Cooking with Youth; Cooking Class Assistants; Seasonal Cooking on Wellness Wednesdays; Community Outreach Events; Meal Preparation; Fundraising/ Educational Events (A Day on the Farm, Saturday Events at the Farm, Autumn Equinox Celebration); Cooks Camp (summer); After School Cooks Club; Food Preservation Workshops; Guest Chef Events.

Join the Harvest Sacramento Team

Join us and other volunteers to cultivate Sacramento’s edible city! We’re looking for Neighborhood Action Leaders. Get trained to lead harvest events in your neighborhood. We’ll connect you with homes that want to donate fruit, organizations who want to receive fruit donations, and tools to get it all done. Want to get trained to be a leader for your neighborhood? Contact the Harvest Sacramento Team >>

These are some ways you can support our work:

Be a Harvest Leader: We will train you to lead your own harvests in your neighborhood.Join a Neighborhood Harvest: Email us for more information >>Photography: Photograph an event and help us better tell our story.Donate: Donate your fruit >>

Opportunities with the Roots and Wings Youth Education Program

For Adult Volunteers with the Youth Education Program

Adult volunteers who work with our Youth Education programs will work in partnership with students grades K-12, and engage in gardening and nature-based activities that promote leadership, improve awareness of the connections between the food we grow and consume, our own personal health, and the health of the environment. Most education volunteer shifts are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Saturday shifts are generally from May to December only. There are special events when Youth Education volunteers, both teens and adults, are needed. Youth Education volunteers may also be interested in assisting with materials prep, or data entry throughout the year.

Required skills:

Ability to work in partnership with youth, rather than as a service provider.

Ability to be on your feet for several hours and walk across uneven terrain.

Ability to relate, interact and empower youth from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds.

For Youth Volunteers at the Ranch

Soil Born Farms highly values volunteers and we know how some youth in our community seek such opportunities for school, church, and organized youth groups. Youth volunteers usually work in and around the youth garden at the American River Ranch. Volunteer support is needed in March, April, May, September and October, before organization-wide events, and when there are large projects in the works. Due to the nature of the tasks involved, volunteering at the farm is best suited for youth age 10 and up. Volunteers under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteer opportunities for youth under the age of 10 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Maximum group size is 15 youth. Volunteer groups with 15+ youth will be handled on a case-by-case basis. All volunteers must have a completed Soil Born Farms Waiver Form on file before work begins. Volunteers are responsible for handling their own time cards and tracking forms.

Volunteer Shifts (by appointment only)

These days and hours are subject to change at any time. Other youth classes, event schedules, weather, project needs, staff availability and other factors may conflict with volunteer scheduling. Volunteerism outside of the following hours (special projects, events, programs) will be handled on a case-by-case.

Growing Together: School Garden Volunteers Needed

Do you enjoy gardening? Would you like to support a school garden program? We are always in need of volunteers to help maintain our school gardens. Basic garden tasks like pruning, weeding, racking and caring for a variety of garden spaces can help our Growing Together project. We would love to find three to five garden angels that can commit three hours per month stewarding a school garden space. The schedule can be flexible. For more information, contact Shannon Hardwicke >>

Work Trade Positions

Help Soil Born Farms, learn and take home organic produce! Work traders will regularly help on the farm and receive a CSA box of vegetables in return. More information for each position is listed below.

Work in the Field

We do not currently have any openings, check back for potential opportunities to work in the field with our Farm Team.We will update this page as positions become available. Work traders are compensated with a box of produce for a weekly 4-hour shift. Please read for additional work trade details. If you are interested, we recommend that you participate in a Saturday field day to have the opportunity to get a feel for the farm and the kind of work you work you would be doing and get a chance to meet the farm team. If you are still interested after completing a field day or would like to be added to the wait list, email the farm manager, Tyler Stowers.

Work in the Kitchen

On-Call Dishwasher Work Trader: This position is on an as needed basis to wash dishes, clean the kitchen and support the instructor for onsite cooking classes in our Culinary Arts Program. Duties include: hand washing dishes as well as loading dishes into the dishwasher; cleaning the kitchen during and after class; sweeping and mopping and miscellaneous tasks as needed. Work trader will report to the instructor 30 minutes prior to class and stay one hour after class or until duties are completed.

On-Call Class Assistant Work Trader: This position is on an as needed basis to provide support for our onsite cooking classes. Duties may include: prepping food; gathering supplies and ingredients; setting up cooking stations; checking-in students; serving food; assisting the instructor as needed; leading small groups and supporting with cleaning the kitchen. Work trader will report to instructor one hour prior to class and stay 30 minutes after class.

Kitchen Work Trade Agreement: Work traders must successfully complete on-site training prior to participating. Work traders will have the option to receive a CSA box or a $50 class gift certificate (some restrictions apply) per shift. Learn while working, enjoy delicious samples, take home recipes and have fun participating in class! For more information, contact Michelle Sikora >>

Become a Soil Born Cultivator

Are you passionate about Soil Born Farms? Are you excited about the work we do feeding the hungry, improving access to healthy food and increasing the health of our community? Do you enjoy telling your friends, colleagues and family about Soil Born Farms? Join our team of Cultivators who help us with our fundraising activities and spread the news about how we are positively impacting our community. Contact Janet Zeller for more information.

Seeking Corporate Partners

Is your office looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity? We invite corporate groups to join us for a day of working on the farm. As a non-profit, we welcome donations and matching funds. Contact the SBF office for more information.

Volunteer Your Skills of Trade

We need skilled tradespeople who want to volunteer either on a consistent or project-to-project basis. We are always in need of electricians, landscapers, plumbers, carpenters, etc. Contact the SBF office >>

Help Us Get the Word Out

We need volunteers to distribute event/class flyers throughout the Sacramento area. Must provide own transportation and enjoy interacting with the public. Distribution dates and times vary. Contact Adriana >>